Portable steamer for synthetic braiding hair

ABSTRACT

A portable steamer for synthetic braiding hair is disclosed. The portable steamer is comprised of a main body, a lid connected to one side of the main body by a hinge and configured to cover/uncover a flat surface formed at the other side of the main body, a water tank connected at the bottom of the main body and configured to hold a water therein, a hair setting groove formed at the flat surface of the main body, and a heater formed inside the water tank and configured to boil the water and generate a steam.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable steamer for syntheticbraiding hair. More specifically, the proposed apparatus is used to seta specific shape of synthetic braiding hair by generating hot watersteam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair styles for women have changed for many years according to the newtrends continuously emerge in hair design industries. Also, thedevelopment of synthetic fiber materials has aided the introduction ofnew hair products to the beauty and hair design market.

The synthetic braiding hair products are normally attached to naturalhuman hair by braiding or stitching with a special hair needle. Toprovide various pre-defined hair styles of synthetic braiding hairproduct, manufacturers utilize the fiber that is capable of maintainingthe shape when it is heated around 100 degree Celsius. One of theeasiest ways to apply heat to the fiber is to use the boiling water.

When the fiber is heated up at this specific temperature range, the formand the shape of the fiber at the moment is fixed. This process iscalled “hot water setting”, and it is very common method in syntheticbraiding hair styling.

The synthetic hair user also can use “hot water setting” to create andmaintain his/her own hair style. For example, when the synthetic hair isbraided, the user can dip it into a boiling water to set its shape.Besides fixing the shape and style itself, the hot water setting is alsoconsidered not only to seal the ends of fibers, but also clean it up aswell.

But there is a serious safety issue in the use of hot water setting onthe synthetic hair personally. Due to no adequate equipment introducedin market yet, most of the user simply use a cup or a bowel thatwithstands the hot temperature of the water. After the water is boiled,the synthetic hair is dipped into the boiling water. This is very unsafeand, at this moment, it is very likely that the skin gets burned by thewater. Also, when using this method, it is almost impossible to applythe heat to the synthetic hair near the scalp area, then less favorablestyle is made. Normally, in hot water setting, there needs anotherperson who assists the process.

There are not many previous inventions disclosed regarding the steamerfor hot water setting of the synthetic braiding hair. US application No.2011/0030715 A1 disclosed a curl activator hair steamer. Appearingalmost like an electric kettle, it will hold water and have a Smallspout-like opening by the top. The very top of the appliance will have asmall lid so that the water may be added. This prior art is not capableof generating hot steam to the synthetic hair in a controlled way. Theshape of kettle pot is more intended to use in general purpose.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,213 disclosed a steamer attachment for a haircurler. An attachment is provided for converting a table top steamerinto an apparatus for steam treatment of the body. The attachmentcomprises an approximately cylindrical conduit having open ends and aplurality of conduit divides the steam jet discharged from the steamerinto three streams and diffuses and cools the steam in each of thesestreams, thereby allowing the face and both hands of the user may besimultaneously steam treated. The invention is placed on the flatsurface or ground and the user is not able to use it portably. The steamgenerated by this apparatus is very difficult to apply near scalp area.Also, the invention disclosed the attachment apparatus that wasinstalled onto the hair curl steamer, which is not identical to thepresent invention to be disclosed.

The first objective of the present invention is to suggest a portablesteamer such that the steam generated inside the steamer is used for hotwater setting of synthetic braiding hair. The steamer is configured tohave a hair setting groove that holds the synthetic braiding hair. Thesteam is applied locally only around the groove. The steamer is verysafe to use even close to the scalp and prevent any risk of skin burn.The steamer can be used by oneself without need of extra person'sassistance.

The second objective of the present invention is to suggest the portablesteamer that is configured to have a plurality of hair setting groovesand be changeable so that multiple and different size of syntheticbraiding hair can be treated simultaneously.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, there is provided aportable steamer comprised of a main body, a lid connected to one sideof the main body by a hinge and configured to cover/uncover a flatsurface formed at the other side of the main body, a water tankconnected at the bottom of the main body and configured to hold a watertherein, a hair setting groove formed at the flat surface of the mainbody, and a heater connected at the bottom of the main body andsubmerged to the water in the water tank.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the lid is configured tocover/uncover the flat surface of the main body by pivoting motionaround the hinge. The water tank is configured to be detachable from themain body so that the water can be refilled. The hair setting groove isconfigured to have a plurality of holes so that the steam generatedinside the water tank comes out therethrough. And the heater isconfigured to and configured to boil the water in the water tank andgenerate a steam.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the main body is furthercomprised of an up-button formed on the side of the main body andconfigured to increase an amount of steam generation, a down-buttonformed on the side of the main body and configured to decrease theamount of steam generation, and a screen formed on the side of the mainbody and configured to display the amount of steam generation.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of hairsetting grooves may be formed at the flat surface of the main body sothat multiple synthetic braiding hairs can be treated simultaneously.And, the hair setting groove is configured to be detachable from theflat surface of the main body so that different sizes of the hairsetting groove can be attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments will be described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be intended to limit its scope,the disclosure will be described with specificity and detail through useof the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portable steamer for synthetic braiding hairin accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view and an unfolded view of a plurality ofholes in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of the apparatus in use in accordance withan illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a plurality of hair setting grooves inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a detachable hair setting groove in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a portable steamer for synthetic braiding hairin accordance with another illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, illustrative embodiments and examples will be described indetail so that inventive concept may be readily implemented by thoseskilled in the art. However, it is to be noted that the presentdisclosure is not limited to the illustrative embodiments and examplesbut can be visualized in various other ways. In drawings, parts notdirectly relevant to the description are omitted to enhance the clarityof the drawings, and like reference numerals denote like partsthroughout the whole document.

Throughout the whole document, the term “on” that is used to designate aposition of one element with respect to another element includes both acase that the one element is adjacent to the other element and a casethat any other element exists between these two elements.

The terms “comprises or includes” and/or “comprising or including” usedin the document means that one or more other components, steps,operations and/or existence or addition of elements are not excluded inaddition to the described components, steps, operations and/or elementsunless context dictates otherwise. The terms “about or approximately” or“substantially” are intended to have meanings close to numerical valuesor ranges specified with an allowable error and intended to preventaccurate or absolute numerical values disclosed for understanding of thepresent disclosure from being illegally or unfairly used by anyunconscionable third party. Throughout the whole document, the term“step of” does not mean “step for”.

Throughout the whole document, the term “combination of” included in theMarkush type description means a mixture or combination of one or morecomponents, steps, operations and/or elements selected from the groupconsisting of components, steps, operations and/or elements described inthe Markush type and thereby means that the disclosure includes one ormore components, steps, operations and/or elements selected from theMarkush group.

Furthermore, in the following description of illustrative embodiments,terms related to a direction or a position (upper side, lower side, upand down directions, etc.) are defined with respect to the arrangementstate of individual components shown in drawings. For example, the“upper side” and the “lower side” may be defined as the upper side andthe lower side when viewed from FIG. 1, that is, the “left side” and the“right side” on a paper plane. However, it should be noted that when theillustrative embodiment is practically applied, the components may bearranged in various directions with the upper side and the lower sidereversed, for example.

Below, illustrative embodiments and examples of the present disclosurewill be described in detail.

With reference to FIG. 1, a portable steamer 10 for synthetic braidinghair is comprised of a main body 11, a lid 12 connected to one side ofthe main body 11 by a hinge 13 and configured to cover/uncover a flatsurface 14 formed at the other side of the main body 11, a water tank 15connected at the bottom of the main body 11 and configured to hold awater therein, a hair setting groove 16 formed at the flat surface 14 ofthe main body 11, and a heater 17 connected at the bottom of the mainbody 11 and submerged to the water in the water tank 15.

The lid 12 is configured to cover/uncover the flat surface 14 of themain body 11 by pivoting motion around the hinge 13.

The water tank 15 is configured to be detachable from the main body 11so that the water can be refilled.

With reference to FIG. 1, The main body 11 further comprises anup-button 19 formed on the side of the main body 11 and configured toincrease an amount of steam generation, a down-button 20 formed on theside of the main body 11 and configured to decrease the amount of steamgeneration, and a screen 21 formed on the side of the main body 11 andconfigured to display the amount of steam generation.

With reference to FIG. 2, the hair setting groove 16 is configured tohave a plurality of holes 18 so that the steam generated inside thewater tank 15 comes out therethrough.

Also, a surface of the hair setting groove 22 may be coated by ceramicmaterial so that the synthetic braided hair slides along the hairsetting groove 16 smoothly.

The heater 17 is configured to boil the water in the water tank 15 andgenerate a steam.

Also, the heater 17 is configured to shut down electrical power when thewater inside the water tank 15 is empty.

More specifically, the detailed description of the steamer 10 isdisclosed as follows with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

When a power switch 23 is turned on, the heater 17 starts boil the waterinside the water tank 15. The boiling water becomes a hot steam andpasses through a chamber 24 inside the main body 11, and comes outthrough the plurality of holes 18 formed around the surface of the hairsetting groove 22.

The intensity of the steam may be controlled by adjusting the up anddown button 19, 20 formed on the side of the main body 11. The screen 21may display the amount of steam generation by numerical values such thatthe lower number represents a small amount of steam generation and thehigher number represents a larger amount of steam generation.

The FIG. 3 shows the exemplary view of the apparatus in use. Syntheticbraiding hair is placed in the hair setting groove 16. When steam startscoming out through the plurality of holes 18, the user can gently slidethe steamer 10 along the braided hair to apply steam evenly. The ceramiccoating on the surface of the hair setting groove 22 may reduce frictiononto the braided hair so that the steamer 10 can slide alongtherethrough smoothly.

With reference to FIG. 4, the steamer 10 may further comprise aplurality of hair setting grooves 25 formed at the flat surface of themain body so that multiple synthetic braiding hairs can be treatedsimultaneously.

With the use of the plurality of hair setting grooves 25, the steamer 10can hold more than one braided hair and reduce overall hot water settingtime.

With reference to FIG. 5, the steamer 10 may further comprise that thehair setting groove 16 is configured to be detachable from the flatsurface 14 of the main body so that different sizes of the hair settinggroove can be attached.

With various sizes of the hair setting groove 16 available, thedifferent thickness of the braided hair can be treated by swapping it,if necessary.

The embodiment described above is effectively applicable to fix theshape of synthetic braided hair. To carry out the functionality of thepresent invention in curly hair with the use of steam in hot watersetting, another illustrative embodiment and example of the presentdisclosure may be described as follows.

With reference to FIG. 6, a portable steamer 10 for synthetic braidinghair is comprised of a main body 51, a water tank 52 connected at thebottom of the main body 51 and configured to hold a water therein, ahair setting chamber 53 formed at one end of the main body 51, and aheater 54 connected at the bottom of the main body 51 and submerged tothe water in the water tank 52. The water tank 52 is configured to bedetachable from the main body 51 so that the water can be refilled.

The hair setting chamber 53 is formed as a tube type and configured tohave a plurality of holes 55 around an inner diameter thereof 53 so thata steam generated inside the water tank 52 comes out therethrough.

A plurality of curling rods 56 is configured to make a curly shape ontoa plurality of synthetic fibers 57 and inserted to the hair settingchamber 53 to form the curly shape with hot water setting.

A bottom lid 58 is attached at the bottom of the hair setting chamber 53and configured to close a bottom opening of the hair setting chamber andhold the plurality of synthetic fibers or the plurality of curling rodsinside the hair setting chamber.

The steamer 10 may be further comprised of a plurality of steam buttons59 formed on the side of the main body 51 and configured to adjust anamount of steam generation such as high, medium, and low. A steamtemperature button 60 is also formed on the side of the main body 51 andconfigured to adjust the temperature of steam generation.

A surface of the inner diameter of the hair setting chamber 53 may becoated by ceramic material so that the synthetic braided hair slidesalong the hair setting groove smoothly.

The heater 54 is configured to shut down electrical power when the waterinside the water tank is empty.

The description above of the illustrative embodiments is provided forthe purpose of illustration, and it would be understood by those skilledin this profession so that various changes and modifications may be madewithout changing technical concepts and essential features of theillustrative embodiments. Thus, it is clear that the illustrativeembodiments described above are illustrative in all aspects and do notlimit the present disclosure. For example, each component described tobe of a single type can be implemented in a distributed manner.Likewise, components described to be distributed can be implemented in acombined manner.

The scope of the inventive concept is defined by the following claimsand their equivalents rather than by the detailed description of theillustrative embodiments. It shall be understood that all modificationsand embodiments conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims andtheir equivalents are included in the scope of the inventive concept.

We claim:
 1. A portable steamer for synthetic braiding hair comprising:a main body; a lid connected to one side of the main body by a hinge andconfigured to cover/uncover a flat surface formed at the other side ofthe main body; a water tank connected at the bottom of the main body andconfigured to hold a water therein; a hair setting groove formed at theflat surface of the main body; and, a heater connected at the bottom ofthe main body and submerged to the water in the water tank.
 2. Anapparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid is configured to cover/uncover theflat surface of the main body by pivoting motion around the hinge.
 3. Anapparatus of claim 1, wherein the water tank is configured to bedetachable from the main body so that the water can be refilled.
 4. Anapparatus of claim 1, wherein the hair setting groove is configured tohave a plurality of holes so that a steam generated inside the watertank comes out therethrough.
 5. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein theheater is configured to boil the water in the water tank and generatethe steam.
 6. An apparatus of claim 1, the main body further comprises:an up-button formed on the side of the main body and configured toincrease an amount of steam generation; a down-button formed on the sideof the main body and configured to decrease the amount of steamgeneration; and, a screen formed on the side of the main body andconfigured to display the amount of steam generation.
 7. An apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein a plurality of hair setting grooves may be formed atthe flat surface of the main body so that multiple synthetic braidinghairs can be treated simultaneously.
 8. An apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe hair setting groove is configured to be detachable from the flatsurface of the main body so that different sizes of the hair settinggroove can be attached.
 9. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface ofthe hair setting groove is coated by ceramic material so that thesynthetic braided hair slides along the hair setting groove smoothly.10. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heater is configured to shutdown electrical power when the water inside the water tank is empty. 11.A portable steamer for synthetic braiding hair comprising: a main body;a water tank connected at the bottom of the main body and configured tohold a water therein; a hair setting chamber formed at one end of themain body; and, a heater connected at the bottom of the main body andsubmerged to the water in the water tank.
 12. An apparatus of claim 11,wherein the water tank is configured to be detachable from the main bodyso that the water can be refilled.
 13. An apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe hair setting chamber is formed as a tube type and configured to havea plurality of holes around an inner diameter thereof so that a steamgenerated inside the water tank comes out therethrough; and, wherein aplurality of curling rods is configured to make a curly shape onto aplurality of synthetic fibers and inserted to the hair setting chamberto form the curly shape with hot water setting.
 14. An apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein a bottom lid is attached at the bottom of the hairsetting chamber and configured to close a bottom opening of the hairsetting chamber and hold the plurality of synthetic fibers or theplurality of curling rods inside the hair setting chamber.
 15. Anapparatus of claim 11, the main body further comprises: a plurality ofsteam buttons formed on the side of the main body and configured toadjust an amount of steam generation; and, a steam temperature buttonformed on the side of the main body and configured to adjust thetemperature of steam generation.
 16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein asurface of the inner diameter of the hair setting chamber is coated byceramic material so that the synthetic braided hair slides along thehair setting groove smoothly.
 17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein theheater is configured to shut down electrical power when the water insidethe water tank is empty.